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The Texas Rangers (11-10) and Atlanta Braves (13-5) play the 2nd game of a 3-game series at Truist Park Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Rangers vs. Braves odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Season series: Braves lead 1-0
Texas lost the series opener 8-3 Friday as the Over (9) hit. The Rangers entered Friday having won 3 of their last 4 road games, all against the Detroit Tigers.
C Travis d’Arnaud hit his 1st 3 homers of the year in the series opener for the Braves, who cashed as -210 favorites. He hit a go-ahead grand slam in the 6th inning, helping Atlanta pick up its 5th straight win.
Rangers at Braves projected starters
RHP Nathan Eovaldi vs. RHP Charlie Morton
Eovaldi (1-1, 2.92 ERA) makes his 5th start. He has a 1.01 WHIP, 2.2 BB/9 and 8.0 K/9 in 24 2/3 innings.
- Last start: Loss, 6 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 3 K in 8-5 loss at Houston Astros Sunday
- 2024 road stats: 1-1, 3.46 ERA (13 IP, 5 ER) in 2 starts
- 2023 vs. Braves: No-decision, 7 IP, 3 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 5 K in 1 start, a 6-5 home loss May 17
- Career vs. Braves: 3-3, 2.89 ERA (99 2/3 IP, 32 ER) in 16 starts
Morton (1-0, 5.29 ERA) makes his 4th start. He has a 1.36 WHIP, 4.2 BB/9 and 9.5 K/9 in 17 innings.
- Last start: No-decision, 5 2/3 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 8 K in 9-7 win at Miami Marlins Sunday
- 2024 home stats: No-decision, 5 2/3 IP, 4 ER, 5 H, 5 BB, 4 K in 1 start, an 8-7 loss vs. New York Mets April 8
- 2023 vs. Rangers: Win, 6 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 10 K in 1 start, a 12-0 road victory May 15
- Career vs. Rangers: 3-1, 2.48 ERA (40 IP, 11 ER) in 7 starts
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Rangers at Braves odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:10 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Rangers +130 (bet $100 to win $130) | Braves -155 (bet $155 to win $100)
- Run line (RL)/Against the spread (ATS): Rangers +1.5 (-160) | Braves -1.5 (+135)
- Over/Under (O/U): 9 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Rangers at Braves picks and predictions
Prediction
Rangers 6, Braves 5
Moneyline
The defending World Series champs, who are 6-5 on the road this season, should bounce back after getting blown out in the series opener. The Rangers and Braves were tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the 6th, and it took a 3rd HR from d’Arnaud for Atlanta to take the lead.
Morton has allowed 4 or more earned runs in back-to-back starts, and his only above-average outing was against the lowly Chicago White Sox. However, I’m taking 1st 5 innings instead of full game because I do worry about the Braves offense pulling off a late comeback.
BET RANGERS FIRST 5 INNINGS (+115).
Run line/Against the spread
There’s no need to bet Rangers +1.5 (-160) when you can get Rangers in the 1st 5 innings at plus-money.
PASS. Bet the 1st 5 innings and/or total instead.
Over/Under
Morton has given up a combined 10 runs over his last 2 starts, and the Braves offense has scored 5 or more in 5 straight games. Between Morton struggling and Atlanta’s offense thriving, I see no reason for this to be a low-scoring game.
BET OVER 9 (-105).
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